Apparatus for handling rolls of flexible sheet material



Sept. 21,- 1948; A. T. LEWIS APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ROLLS OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL Filed Feb. 15, 1945 jnvenhr Arlfiur homas Lewis Patented Sept. 21 1948 UNITED STATES. ATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ROLLS F FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL I 7 Arthur '1. Lewis, Toronto, 0n tario, Canada Application February 13, 1945, Serial No; 577,686

This invention relates to apparatus for handling paper rolls or rolls of other flexible sheet material in rewinding or slitting machines. Machines of this type are provided with two under drums spaced apart and rotatable in the same direction, and a spindle on which is wound the paper and which is placed in the valley between the drums. To get the spindle with its accumulated paper out of the machine and insert a fresh spindle is a time-consuming operation if done by hand. Sometimes the paper roll is large and difiicult to move. Heretofore to facilitate removal of paper rolls resort has been had to expensive and complicated mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive mechanism of such form that it may be incorporated in new machines or added to old ones, and whereby the wound rolls of paper may be conveniently and rapidly ejected from the machine.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a roll ejecting mechanism in conjunction with mechanism for automatically returning a fresh spindle to winding position in the machine.

This invention will hereinafter be specifically described in combination with a paper rewinder and slitting machine with which it is particularly useful. However, it should be understood that the roll ejecting and spindle feeding mechanism is not limitedto use with the particular machine disclosed herein.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and the annexed drawings which by way of preferred exampleillustrate one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the difierent figures.

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away;

Figure 2 is a partial cross section showing the roll handling means in position ready to eject the full roll of paper;

Figure 3 is a cross section showing the roll handling means in position as the full roll is about to be ejected and the new spindle to be fed to the machine;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontalsection on the line 4-6 in Figure 2, on an enlarged scale;

and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

- The reference numeral I indicates the supporting frame of the machine; this part of thepaper 1'1. Claims. (01. 24266) 2 winding apparatus or rewinder,- as it is commonly known, may be of any standard construction as it forms no part of the present invention.

1 As is usual in machines of this type the winding mechanism comprises a pairof rotatable under-drums 2 and 3 and a winding spindle 4 rotatably supported by said drums 2 and 3 and adapted to wind up the paper into a roll 5 on cores I6 by contact with said revolving under-drums 2 and 3. The under-drums 2 and 3 are suitably journalled in the frame I of the machine, and they are driven by any suitable means (not shown).

Resting on the paper roll 5- is a riding roller 6 which is rotatably mountedin a riding roller supporting frame I. Said supporting frame comprises a cross member and end members on which are mounted shoes 9, 9. In a Kidder machine this riding roller is driven by means of suitable gears in synchronism with the bed rollers. Since this-does not form a part of this invention, the driving means is not described or shown for the sake of clarity.

Each'side of the frame I has vertically extending posts II, II, which are joined at their uppermost extremities by a transverse beam I3. The inner surfaces of these: posts II, are provided with guideways I la, I Ia extending along substantially the whole length ofthe posts. The outer surfaces of shoes 9, 9 of the riding roller supporting-frame I are provided with grooves to travel along the guidewa-ys Ila. Thus, asv the paper accumulates on the winding spindle and the diameter of the roll increases, the riding roller in its supporting frame I will gradually travel upward; Also, when it' is required to remove the full roll of paper fromv the machine the riding roller supporting .frame may be lifted upwardly by means of the pulley system I6 in conjunction with cord I1;

The roller handling apparatus proper comprises a suspension member 20- which includes arms 2'], 2| which 'are respectively hinged on the top of posts II, Il.by hinges l2, I2. These two arms are joined by transverse bar 23. Pivotally mounted to the lower part of the suspension member 20 is the .lever member 24 which comprises hooking bars 25 and 26 having notches 25a and 26a and joined by transverse members 21. Pins II and I2 project'outwardly from the sides of the hooking bars and provide pivots for the lever member 24 in the suspension arms 2 I.

These pivot points are arranged substantially atthecentre of, gravity of the lever member 24, so that normally the lever, member will be balanced on its pivots. I find it desirable to provide longitudinal movement of the lever member along the suspension arm, and for this purpose I provide slots 13 in the suspension arm in which the pivot pins H and '12 may have longitudinal travel. Adjustable stops 3E and Bi limit the amount of possible longitudinal travel.

Extending from the shoes 9 of the riding roller supporting frame are cams 30. On 'ea'ch 'suspension arm 21 are cam followers 32 which are designed to co -act with the cams 30 in a manner which will be hereinafter described. The position of cam followers 3 on the suspension arms- While the machine is in operation and paper is being rolled on the spindle the roller handling apparatus is placed in inoperative position by swinging the suspension member outwardly, that is in a sense away from-the posts.

To remove 'a full roll of paper from the-machine the suspension member so is swung inwardly and the hooking bars 25 of the lever member at engage the ends of the spindle 4, as shown in Fig. 2. Then the riding roller supporting frame I is lifted upwardly. along the guideways Ha of posts Hv by pulling cord [-1. As the riding roller supporting frame moves upwardly the cams '36 which form part of the shoes 55 come in contact with the cam followers 32 and thereby they gradually push the suspension member Eil outwardly. As the suspension member is swung outwardly the lever member 24 (which by means of its hooking bars 25 had previously engaged spindle t carrying the full roll of paper will pull "this roll back over the rear under-drum s and elect. it on the receiving table fill. The notches in the hooking bars are so designed that once the paper roll is on the receiving table Esq-it releases itself automatically from the said hooking bars and rolls down the receiving table by gravity.

The top surface of the hooking bars 25 is smooth and slopes downwardly at the hooked end, and upwardly extending, flanges 5.! iare'sprovided on each side thereof. Thus an empty spindle 53 having mounted thereon ;a plurality of cores 7] may be placed on it after the lever member 2a is adjusted to grasp the spindle 4. The ends .ofrthe spindle rest onthe top surface of. the hooking bars and longitudinal movement is prevented by the flanges 5]. :When the suspension member 25} is swung outwardly to eject the full roll 5 from the machine the; lever member 24 will tilt. slightly and the-spindle will then downwardly and forwardly.

Asv the suspension member 210 is moved out the new spindle will roll-down the hooking bars amtil its ends engage the riding roller frame Extensions la at each end of theframe I extend downwardly over the ends of the filled spindle 4 and act as stops to hold the new spindle 53 on the hooking bars. as their ends tilt downwards. When the extensions la release the spindle it rolls gently down the sloping ends-of the hooking bars into position on thedrum's 2 and 3 ready for winding. The ends of thespindle will contact the rear side of the guideways I I-a thus preventing the spindle from rolling'over the front under-drum 2. a

After the fresh spindle has been deposited-on the under-drums the riding roller supporting frame is released, the roll handling apparatus being kept in the outwardly swung position, and

4 the machine is once again in operative position. A latch 52, which is better illustrated in Figure l, securedto a suitable part of the frame may, if desired, be provided to hold the suspension member in outwardly swung inoperative position until it is desired to again position it.

To facilitate handling the suspension member 20 and lever member 215 I find it convenient to provide a suitable cord to attached to transverse bar 27 of the lever member and passing over beam l3 and extending downwardly within easy access to the operator. By pulling on this cord the operator can adjust the elevation and/or inclination of the lever member to the desired position to cause the hooking bars to engage the pins and retain same in horizontal position to. support the new spindle. After the suspension arms have been swung outwardly to eject the paper rol'l 5, the cord 55 may be pulled to pivot the lever member causing the hooking bars to give the paper roll added impetus in its movement out -of the valley between the under-drums and onto the receiving table.

Stop means may be attached to the cord to limit the extent to which the lever member may be pulled upwardly or dropped.

In rewinding operations it is necessary to spread some glue on the empty cores H in order to prevent the paper which is to be wound on it from slipping. In order to facilitate this -o,peration I take advantage of the construction of the lever member to place in the space between the hooking bars as an open-topped container 68. J ournalled in each end wall is 'a gluespr-ead- 'ing shaftfifi having on its surface enlarged parts 61-. This container and shaft are so adjusted that the top of the enlarged parts 6? will touch the underneath surface of the cores 7-! on the spindle 53 which is resting on the lever member and passes over said shaft 66. A gluecompound is placed in the container to a level sufficient to wet'the underneath portions of the enlarged par-ts GI/of the shaft 66. When a new spindle 53 is placed on the lever member it will pass over the container 6i] and the enlarged parts '8] of the glue spreading shaft 66 will touch the cores TI on the new spindle and apply glue to it. This feature saves the operator the trouble of manually applying glue to the spindle shaft. Pins 1| and 12 project outwardly from the sides of hooking bars 25, 26 and are longitudinally movable in slots iii in suspension arms 2!. Adjustable stops '89 and 8! limit the amount of movement. These pins 151, T2 provide pivots for lever member 2%, all as previously described.

slitting knives for cutting the paper into small rolls, which are used on the Kidder and other slitting machines, are omitted from the drawings since they do not form part of the invention and would obscure the disclosure of the invention.

It is thought that the construction and use of the invention will be apparent from the :above description of the various parts and their purpose. It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and. described, is to be'taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes inthe shape, size and arrangement of parts may be. resorted to, without' departing'from the spirit of my invention.

It will be understood that it applies equallyto the Winding of sheets or webs of other flexible sheet material such as rubber, foil, textiles, or resinous films, such as cellulose acetate film, and it is to beidistinctlyunderstood.thatalthough the invention has been described. in connection with paper rolls-for convenience, it is applicable likewise-to the other materials mentioned above.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Roll handling apparatus for flexible sheet material winding machines, comprising means for rotatably supporting a spindle; means for rotating the spindle to wind the sheet material therearound;-.means for feeding sheet material to the spindle; a suspension member; supporting means on which the suspension member is pivoted; a lever memberpivotally mounted on the lower end of the suspension member and adapted to engage the spindle; and means for swinging the suspension member and'lever member away from the spindle supporting means to eject the spindle from the spindle supporting means after the sheet material has been wound on the spindle.

.2. Roll handling apparatus for flexible sheet material winding machines, comprising means for rotatably supporting a spindle; mean for rotating the spindle to wind sheet material therearound; means for feeding sheet material to the spindle; a suspension'member; supporting means on which the suspension'memberis pivoted; a lever member pivotally mounted on the lower end of the suspension member and adapted'to engage the spindle; means for swinging the suspension member and lever member away from the spindle supporting means to eject the spindle supporting means after the sheet material has been wound on the spindle; and means for pivoting the lever member to adjust the angle thereof to the desired position-for engagement with and ejection of the spindle.

3. Roll handling apparatus for flexible sheet material winding machines, comprising means for rotatably supporting a spindle; means for rotating the spindle to wind the sheet material therearound; means for feeding sheet material to the spindle; 'a suspension member; supporting means on' which the suspension member is pivoted; a lever member pivotally mounted on the lower end of the suspension member adapted to engage the spindle and provided with a, hook adapted to hook over a part of the spindle; and means for swinging the suspension member and lever member away from the spindle'supporting means to eject the spindle from the spindle supporting means after the sheet material has been wound on the spindle.

4. Roll handling apparatus'for flexible sheet material winding machines, comprising a spindle having cores mounted thereon; the endsof the spindle projecting beyondthe ends of the cores; means for rotatably supporting the spindle; means'for rotating the spindleto wind the sheet material therearound; means for feeding sheet material to the spindle; a suspension" member; supporting means on which the suspension member is pivoted; a lever member pivotally mounted on the lower end of thesuspension member adapted to engage the spindle'and provided with hooks adapted to hook over the projectingends of the spindle; and means for swinging the suspension member and lever member away from the spindle supporting means to 'eject'the spindle from the spindle supporting means after the sheet material has been wound on the cores. v

5. Roll handling apparatus for flexible sheet material winding machines, comprising means for rotatably supporting a spindle; means fo'r rotating-thespindle to wind *sheet material there around; meansfor feeding sheet'm'aterial tothe spindle; a; suspension member having l'ongitudi nal slots at the lower portion thereof irsupporting means on which :the' suspension member is pivoted; a lever member pivotally and slidably mounted in the longitudinal slots of the suspension member and adapted to engage the spindle; means for swinging the suspension member and lever member away from the spindle supporting means to eject the spindle supporting means after the sheet material has been wound on the spindle; andv'means for pivoting the lever member to adjust the angle thereof to the desired position for engagement with and ejection of the spindle.

6. .Roll handlin apparatus for flexible sheet material winding machines, comprising means forrotatably supporting a spindle; means for rotating the spindle to wind sheet material therearound; means for feeding sheet material to the spindle; a suspension member having longitudinal slots at the lower portion thereof, said slots being provided with an adjustable upper and lower stop; supporting means on which the suspension member is pivoted; a lever member pivotally, and slidably mounted between the adjustable stops in the longitudinal slots of the suspension member and adapted to engage the spindle;

, means for swinging the suspension member and lever member away from the spindle supporting means to eject the spindle supporting means after the sheet material has been wound on the spindle; and means for pivoting the lever member to adjust the angle thereof to the desired position for engagement with and ejection of the spindle.

7. Roll handling apparatus for flexible sheet material winding machines, comprising means for rotatably supporting a. spindle; means for rotating the spindle to wind the sheet material therearound; means for feeding sheet material to the spindle; a suspension member; supporting means on which the suspension member is pivoted; spindle engaging means mounted on the lower end of the suspension member; a riding roller adapted to ride on the roll of sheet material as the spindle is being wound with sheet material; a frame in which the riding roller is rotatably mounted; means for lifting the riding roller frame to raise the riding roller off the roll of sheet ma terial when the spindle is Wound; and means actuated by the lifting of the riding roller frame for swinging the suspension member and spindle engaging means away from the spindle supporting means to eject the spindle from the spindle supporting means after the sheet material has been wound on the spindle.

8. Roll handling apparatus for flexible sheet material winding machines, comprising means for rotatably supporting a spindle; means for rotating'the spindle to wind the sheet material therearound; means for feeding sheet material to the spindle; a suspension member; supportin means on which the suspension member is pivoted; spindle engaging means mounted on the lower end of the suspension member; a riding roller adapted to ride on the roll of sheet material as the spindle is being wound with paper; a frame in WhlCh the riding roller is rotatably mounted; means for liftingthe riding roller frame to raise the riding roller oi the roll of sheet material when the spindle is wound; a cam on the riding roller frame; a cam follower on the suspension member, said cam follower being adapted to be engaged by the cam when the riding roller frame is lifted and to swing the suspension member and the spindle engaging means away from the spindle supporting means to eject the spindle from the spindle supporting means after the sheet material has been wound onithesp'indle'. or

9. Roll handling apparatus. for flexible. sheet material winding machines, comprising means for rotatably supporting a spindle; means for rotating the spindle to wind the sheet material therearound; means for feeding sheet material on the spindle; a suspension member; supporting means: on which the suspension member ispivoted; spindle engaging means mounted on the lower end of the suspension member; a riding roller adapted to ride on the roll of sheet material as the spindle is being wound with sheet material; a frame in which the riding roller is rotatably mounted; vertical; guideways on which the riding roller frame slides; means for lifting the riding roller frame to raise the riding roller off the roll of sheet material when the. spindle iswound; a cam on the riding roller frame; a cam follower on the suspension member, said cam follower being adapted to be engaged by the cam when the, riding roller frame is lifted and; to. swing the suspension member and the spindle engaging means away from the spindle supporting means to eject the spindle from the spindle supporting means after the sheet material has been Wound on the spindle.

10; Roll handling apparatus for flexible sheet material winding machines, comprising means for rotatably supporting a spindle; means for rotating the spindle to wind the sheet material therearound; means for feeding sheet material to the spindle; a suspension member; supporting means on which the suspension member is pivoted; spindle engaging means mounted on the lowerend of the suspension member; a riding roller adapted to ride on the roll of sheet material as the spindle is being Wound with sheet material; a frame in which the riding roller is rotatably mounted; means for lifting theriding roller frame to raise the riding roller ofi the roll of sheet material When the spindle is wound; a cam on the riding roller frame; a vertically adjustable cam follower on the suspension member, said camfollower being adapted to be engaged by the cam when the riding roller frame is lifted and to swing the suspension member and the spindle engaging means away from the spindle supporting meansto eject the spindle from the spindle supporting means after the sheet material has been wound on the spindle.

11. Roll handling apparatus for flexible sheet material winding machines, comprising means for rotatably supporting a spindle; means for rotating the spindle to Wind sheet material therearound; means for feeding sheet material to the spindle; a suspension member; supporting means on which the suspension member is pivoted; a lever member pivotally mounted in a vertical slot in the lower end of the suspension member and adapted to engage the spindle; means for swing ing the suspension member and lever member away from the spindle supporting means to eject the spindle supporting means after the sheet material: has been wound on the spindle; and means for pivoting the lever member to adjust the angle thereof to the desired position for engage-. ment with and ejection of the spindle.

12-. Roll handling apparatus for flexible sheet material: winding machines, comprising a spindle having cores mounted thereon, the ends of the spindle projecting beyond the ends of the cores; means for rotatably supporting the spindle; means for rotating the spindle to wind sheet material. there-around; means for feeding the sheet material to the spindle; a suspension member;

supporting means on which the suspension mam-- ber is phtOtedL; vertical guidewaysalong said sup,- porting means; a riding roller; a riding: roller supporting frame slidably mounted in. saidguideways; means for lifting said, riding roller supporting frame; a. levermember 'pi'votally mounted on the lower, end of; the; suspension member and prevdem with hooks adapted to. hook over the Droiectingnends of the. spindle; and means. for swinging; the suspension member and lever member away fronr the spindle. supporting meansyand fer-pivoting thev levermember to ej ct; the spindle the. spindlesupnorting me ns aft-er the. sheet mater ai has-been; wound on the; spindle.

1 *v Rollhan lingi apparatus for flexible. sheet materiai w nding; machines; comprising meansfor re atabiy supporting: a spindle: means for rotatin the spindle to wind sheet; material; thereareu d; means; fo e din sheet. material to the spi dle; a suspension member; portin mea s n which h sp ns on member i pivoted: hooking bars; supported. by he. spension member and adapted to engage thespindleand; to also s p rt a fresh. sp ndle on he; top surface there.- o and means for swin ing the suspensionpm m be andheokingbars; away from the spindle supporting means to; eject the spindle supporting means after the sheetmaterial hasbeen wound; on the spindle and deposit the fresh spindle on the meansfor rotatably supportin a spindle.

14. Roll handling epparat-usnior flexible sheet material winding: machines, comprising a spin-v dle; meansfor rotatably supporting the, spindle; means iorrotatine, the; spindle to wind sheet material therearound; eans for; feeding the sheet material; to; the, spindle; a suspension member;

supporting meansn which the susp ns m ber is pivoted; vertioal uideways along said supp rtinameans; a, riding: roller; a, riding roller sup or n rame slidably. mounted in sa d guideways; means for liiting; said riding roller sup,- p iris fr me; a; ever member pivotally mounted on he lo er endrefthe suspen on member nd provided with hooks. adaptedto hook over the ends of the spindle, said lever member being adapted-te also support. a, fresh spindle on the top surf ce here fr; and meansfor swing n e s pens on member and. lever member away from he spindle supportin meansand, for ivotin the lever'm 'enrber to eject-the spindle from the spindle supporting means after the sheet material has been wound; on the spindle and to then deposit the freshspindle on the means for rotatabiy ppor ing a spindle R011 handling apparatus for flexible sheet material Windingmaehines, comprising a spindle; m ans; for, rotatably supporting the. spindle; means for; rotating the spindle to. wind sheet material therearound; .meansifor feeding the sheet material: to the-spindle; a supspension. member having'longitudlnal slots at the lower portion thereoi; supporting means, on which the suspension. member is; pivoted; vertical guideways along said: supporting means; a. riding roller; a riding rollersuppbrtingframe slidably mounted in said guideways; means for: lifting said riding roller supporting frame; a; lever member pi-votally and slidably mounted in the longitudinal slotsof the suspension member and being provided with hooks adapted to hook over the ends of the spindle; and means for swinging-the suspension member and lever-member away-from the spindle supportingmeans. and for pivoting the lever-member to eject the spindle from the spindle supporting means after the sheet-material 'haslbeen wound onthespindle.

16. Roll handling apparatus for flexible sheet material winding machines, comprising a spindle; means for rotatably supporting the spindle; means for rotating the spindle to wind sheet material therearound; means for feeding the sheet material to the spindle; a suspension member having longitudinal slots at the lower portion thereof and said slots being provided with adjustable stops; supporting means on which the suspension member is pivoted; vertical guideways along said supporting means; a riding roller; a riding roller supporting frame slidably mounted in said guideways; means for lifting said riding roller supporting frame; a lever member pivotally and slidably mounted between the adjustable stops in the iongitudinal slots of the suspension member and being provided with hooks adapted to hook over the ends of the spindle; and means for swinging the suspension member and lever member away from the spindle supporting means and for pivoting the lever member to eject the spindle from the spindle supporting means after the sheet material has been wound on the spindle.

17. Roll handling apparatus for flexible sheet material winding machines, comprising means for rotat-ably supporting a spindle; means for rotating the spindle to wind sheet material therearound; means for feeding sheet material to the spindle; a suspension member; supporting means on which the suspension member is pivoted; a

lever member pivotally mounted on the lower I end of the suspension member, said lever member comprising hooking bars adapted to engage the spindle and to also support a fresh spindle on the top surface thereof; gluing means extending between and below the hooking bars for contact with the surface of a core on the fresh spindle when the spindle is placed on the supporting bars; means for swinging the suspension member and lever member away from the spindle supporting means to eject the spindle supporting means after the sheet material has been wound on the spindle; and means for pivoting the lever member to adjust the angle thereof to the desired position for engagement with and ejection of the spindle and then to deposit the fresh spindle on the means for rotatably supporting a spindle.

ARTHUR T. LEWIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

